CO2 recovery system and recovery method for moisture containing CO2 gas

ABSTRACT

A CO 2  recovery system  10 A has a CO 2  recovery unit  11 , a compression unit  12 , and a condensed-water supply line  65 A that supplies condensed water  64  to an absorbent regenerator  14 . The CO 2  recovery unit  11  includes a CO 2  absorber  13  and the absorbent regenerator  14 . The compression unit  12  has a first compressor  61 - 1  to an nth compressor  61 - n  that compress CO 2  gas  56  emitted from the absorbent regenerator  14 , a first separator  63 - 1  to an nth separator  63 - n  that reduce moisture in the CO 2  gas  56 , and a first heat exchanger  66 - 1  that performs heat exchange between the CO 2  gas  56  emitted from the first compressor  61 - 1  and the condensed water  64  emitted from the first separator  63 - 1.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/417,441 filed Mar. 12, 2012, which is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-090506 filed on Apr. 14, 2011, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a CO₂ recovery system and a recovery method for moisture containing CO₂ gas that enable to recover water containing an absorbent, which is generated when CO₂ gas emitted from a regenerator is compressed.

BACKGROUND

In thermal power plants using a large amount of fossil fuel and the like, flue gas generated by burning the fossil fuel in a boiler contains CO₂. Methods that enable to reduce and recover CO₂ in the flue gas by bringing the flue gas containing CO₂ into gas-liquid contact with an amine CO₂ absorbent in a CO₂ absorber and causing the CO₂ absorbent to absorb the CO₂, and methods that enable to store recovered CO₂ without releasing the CO₂ to the atmosphere have been intensively studied.

For example, a method by which a CO₂ absorbent absorbs CO₂ in flue gas in a CO₂ absorber to reduce CO₂ from the flue gas, then the CO₂ absorbed by the CO₂ absorbent is liberated in a regenerator to regenerate the CO₂ absorbent, and the regenerated CO₂ absorbent is circulated again to the CO₂ absorber to be reused to reduce CO₂ from the flue gas is employed (see Patent Literature 1, for example). In this method, the CO₂ absorbent having absorbed CO₂ is heated with vapor in the regenerator, thereby liberating the CO₂, and accordingly high-purity CO₂ is recovered.

CO₂ gas accompanied by water vapor, which is released from a rich solution and a semi-lean solution in the regenerator, is emitted from the top of the regenerator, then the water vapor in the CO₂ gas is condensed by a condenser, and water generated in the CO₂ gas is separated by a separation drum. The CO₂ gas from which the water vapor has been separated is compressed by a plurality of compressors with the pressure gradually increased, thereby being recovered as compressed CO₂. After being compressed by the compressors, the CO₂ gas is pressed into an oilfield to be used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), accumulated in an aquifer as a measure against global warming, or used as a synthetic raw material of chemical products.

When the CO₂ gas is compressed, cooled, and pressed into the oilfield to be used for oil recovery or the like, moisture remaining in the CO₂ gas is condensed by the compression to become condensed water, and then COD components are resolved or the like, are subjected to effluent treatment, and then are discharged to outside.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.     2008-62165

SUMMARY Technical Problem

Because the recovered CO₂ contains a small quantity of the absorbent, the condensed water produced by compressing the CO₂ gas contains the absorbent. Accordingly, methods that enable to efficiently use the condensed water to be discharged to outside are studied to reduce a consumption amount of the absorbent circulating in a system between the CO₂ absorber and the absorbent regenerator and to efficiently use the absorbent.

Meanwhile, using heat emission from a CO₂ compressor system to recover heat and efficiently using the heat in a CO₂ recovery system is demanded.

The present invention has been achieved in view of the above problems, and objects of the present invention are to provide a CO₂ recovery system that enables to recover condensed water contained in CO₂ gas without discharging the condensed water to outside to efficiently use an absorbent contained in the condensed water, and to efficiently use heat emission from a CO₂ compressor system.

Solution to Problem

According to an aspect of the present invention, a CO₂ recovery system includes: a CO₂ recovery unit comprising a CO₂ absorber that absorbs and reduces CO₂ in flue gas containing CO₂ using a CO₂ absorbent by bringing the flue gas into contact with the CO₂ absorbent, and an absorbent regenerator that regenerates a CO₂ absorbent having absorbed CO₂ in the CO₂ absorber to obtain a CO₂ absorbent; a CO₂ compression unit comprising at least one or more compressors that compress CO₂ gas emitted from the absorbent regenerator, and separators that are located between any two of the compressors to separate moisture contained in the CO₂ gas as condensed water from the CO₂ gas by cooling compressed CO₂ gas; and a condensed-water supply line that supplies the condensed water separated from the CO₂ gas through any one of the separators into a system in which the CO₂ absorbent circulates between the CO₂ absorber and the absorbent regenerator.

Advantageously, in the CO₂ recovery system, the condensed water separated from the separator is supplied to inside of the CO₂ absorber, to the CO₂ absorbent circulating between the CO₂ absorber and the absorbent regenerator, to return water to be supplied to the absorbent regenerator from a separation drum that separates water from the CO₂ gas emitted from the absorbent regenerator, and to a top circulating-water line of the absorber.

Advantageously, in the CO₂ recovery system, at least one heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between CO₂ gas emitted from any one of the compressors and condensed water emitted from any one of the separators is provided between the compressor and the separator, the heat exchanger is located on the condensed-water supply line to cause the condensed water to become vapor, and the condensed-water supply line is connected to a bottom of the absorbent regenerator.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a recovery method for moisture containing CO₂ gas that enables to absorb and reduce CO₂ in flue gas containing CO₂ using a CO₂ absorbent by bringing the flue gas into contact with the CO₂ absorbent in a CO₂ absorber, then reduce CO₂ in the CO₂ absorbent having absorbed CO₂ in an absorbent regenerator, and reuse a regenerated CO₂ absorbent in the CO₂ absorber while recovering CO₂ gas emitted from the absorbent regenerator and recovering moisture in the recovered CO₂ gas, the recovery method comprising: compressing the CO₂ gas recovered from the absorbent regenerator using at least one or more compressors; separating moisture in the CO₂ gas as condensed water from the CO₂ gas using a compressed CO₂ gas cooler provided between any two of compressors and separators; and supplying the condensed water separated from the CO₂ gas through any one of the separators into a system in which the CO₂ absorbent circulates between the CO₂ absorber and the absorbent regenerator through a condensed-water supply line.

Advantageously, in the recovery method for moisture containing CO₂ gas, condensed water emitted from the separator and subjected to heat exchange is supplied to inside of the CO₂ absorber, to the CO₂ absorbent circulating between the CO₂ absorber and the absorbent regenerator, to return water to be supplied to the absorbent regenerator from a separation drum that separates water from the CO₂ gas emitted from the absorbent regenerator, and to a top circulating-water line of the absorber.

Advantageously, in the recovery method for moisture containing CO₂ gas, at least one heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between CO₂ gas emitted from any one of the compressors and condensed water emitted from any one of the separators is provided, and the condensed water emitted from any one of the separators is subjected to heat exchange in the heat exchanger with the CO₂ gas emitted from any one of compressors through the condensed-water supply line to generate vapor and is supplied to a bottom of the absorbent regenerator.

Furthermore, configurations described below can be also adopted to solve the above problems.

That is, the seventh invention is preferably the CO₂ recovery system in the third invention in which a first heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between CO₂ gas emitted from a first compressor located on a most preflow side among the compressors and condensed water separated from the CO₂ gas by a first separator located on a most preflow side among the separators is provided, a first condensed-water supply line connects the first separator and the bottom of the absorbent regenerator, and the condensed water separated from the CO₂ gas by the first separator is caused to become vapor by the heat exchange in the first heat exchanger with the CO₂ gas emitted from the first compressor and then is supplied to the bottom of the absorbent regenerator.

The eighth invention is preferably the CO₂ recovery system in the third or seventh invention in which a second heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between CO₂ gas emitted from a second compressor located second from the preflow side among the compressors and condensed water separated from the CO₂ gas by a second separator located second from the preflow side among the separators is provided, a second condensed-water supply line connects the second separator and the bottom of the absorbent regenerator, and the condensed water separated from the CO₂ gas by the second separator is caused to become vapor by the heat exchange in the second heat exchanger with the CO₂ gas emitted from the second compressor and then is supplied to the bottom of the absorbent regenerator.

The ninth invention is preferably the CO₂ recovery system in the eighth invention in which when the first condensed-water supply line is provided, the first condensed-water supply line is connected to the second condensed-water supply line before or after the second heat exchanger.

The tenth invention is preferably the recovery method for moisture containing CO₂ gas in the sixth invention in which condensed water separated from the CO₂ gas by a first separator located on a most preflow side among the separators is subjected to heat exchange in a first exchanger with CO₂ gas emitted from a first compressor located on a most preflow side among the compressors through a first condensed-water supply line and then is supplied to the bottom of the absorbent regenerator.

The eleventh invention is the recovery method for moisture containing CO₂ gas in the sixth or tenth invention in which condensed water separated from the CO₂ gas by a second separator located second from the preflow side among the separators is subjected to heat exchange in a second heat exchanger with CO₂ gas emitted from a second compressor located second from the preflow side among the compressors through a second condensed-water supply line and then is supplied to the bottom of the absorbent regenerator.

The twelfth invention is the recovery method for moisture containing CO₂ gas in the eleventh invention in which when the first condensed-water supply line is provided, the first condensed-water supply line is connected to the second condensed-water supply line before or after the second heat exchanger.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, condensed water contained in CO₂ gas can be recovered without discharging the condensed water to outside to efficiently use an absorbent contained in the condensed water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a CO₂ recovery system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of another configuration of the CO₂ recovery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of still another configuration of the CO₂ recovery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of still another configuration of the CO₂ recovery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a CO₂ recovery system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of another configuration of the CO₂ recovery system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of still another configuration of the CO₂ recovery system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter, “embodiments”). In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily assumed by persons skilled in the art, or that are substantially equivalent and so-called equivalents. Furthermore, constituent elements disclosed in the following embodiments can be appropriately combined with each other.

First Embodiment

A CO₂ recovery system according to a first embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a CO₂ recovery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a CO₂ recovery system 10A includes a CO₂ recovery unit 11 and a compression unit 12. The CO₂ recovery unit 11 has a CO₂ absorber 13 and an absorbent regenerator (hereinafter, “regenerator”) 14.

The CO₂ recovery system 10A includes a CO₂ absorbing system that absorbs CO₂ by the CO₂ absorber 13, a CO₂-recovering and CO₂-absorber-regenerating system that performs CO₂ recovery and CO₂ absorber regeneration by the regenerator 14, and a CO₂ compressing system that compresses CO₂ recovered by the compression unit 12 to be injected in the ground or in an oilfield.

In the CO₂ recovery unit 10A, a CO₂ absorbent 16 that absorbs CO₂ in flue gas 15 containing CO₂ circulates between the CO₂ absorber 13 and the regenerator 14 (hereinafter, “within the system”). A CO₂ absorbent (rich solution) 17 having absorbed CO₂ in the flue gas 15 is supplied from the CO₂ absorber 13 to the regenerator 14. The CO₂ absorbent (lean solution) 16 that is regenerated by reducing almost all CO₂ from the rich solution 17 in the regenerator 14 is supplied from the regenerator 14 to the CO₂ absorber 13.

The flue gas 15 contains CO₂ emitted from industrial facilities such as a boiler and a gas turbine. The flue gas 15 is subjected to pressure rising by a flue gas blower or the like, is cooled by a cooler, and then is sent through a side wall of the bottom of the CO₂ absorber 13 to inside of the CO₂ absorber 13 via a flue.

The CO₂ absorber 13 brings the flue gas 15 into contact with the CO₂ absorbent 16 to reduce CO₂ from the flue gas 15. The CO₂ absorber 13 has a CO₂ absorbing unit 21, a spray nozzle 22, a water-washing unit 23, and a demister 24. The flue gas 15 supplied into the absorber flows from a bottom side in the absorber to a top side. The spray nozzle 22 sprays the CO₂ absorbent 16 to a downward direction. The CO₂ absorbing unit 21 is provided on a preflow side in a flow direction of the flue gas 15 in the CO₂ absorber 13. In the present embodiment, the CO₂ absorbing unit 21 is provided on a lower side of the CO₂ absorber 13.

In the CO₂ absorbing unit 21, the flue gas 15 moving upward in the absorber comes into contact with an opposed flow of the CO₂ absorbent 16 having a basic amine compound as a base, for example, and CO₂ in the flue gas 15 is absorbed by the CO₂ absorbent 16.

Although not particularly limited thereto, alkanolamine or hindered amines having an alcoholic hydroxyl group can be cited as examples of the CO₂ absorbent that can be used in the present embodiment. As the alkanolamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, methyldiethanolamine, diisopropanolamine, diglycolamine, and the like can be cited as examples and, usually, monoethanolamine (MEA) is preferably used. As the hindered amines having an alcoholic hydroxyl group, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP), 2-(ethylamino)-ethanol (EAE), 2-(methylamino)-ethanol (MAE), and the like can be cited as examples.

The lean solution 16 is sprayed through the spray nozzle 22 to absorb CO₂ in the flue gas 15 in the CO₂ absorbing unit 21, resulting in the rich solution 17. The rich solution 17 passes through the CO₂ absorbing unit 21 and then is stored at the absorber bottom.

While the CO₂ absorber 13 has one CO₂ recovering unit 21 in the present embodiment, the present embodiment is not limited thereto and a plurality of CO₂ recovering units 21 can be provided.

The water-washing unit 23 and the demister 24 are provided on a postflow side in the flow direction of the flue gas 15 in the CO₂ absorber 13. In the present embodiment, the water-washing unit 23 and the demister 24 are provided above the CO₂ absorbing unit 21 in the absorber. CO₂-reduced flue gas 26 having CO₂ reduced therefrom by the CO₂ absorbing unit 21 is discharged from the system through the absorber top after the CO₂ absorbent 16 accompanied by the CO₂-reduced flue gas 26 is reduced by the water-washing unit 23 and mist contained in the CO₂-reduced flue gas 26 is collected by the demister 24. While the CO₂ absorber 13 has one water-washing unit 23 in the present embodiment, a plurality of water-washing units 23 can be provided.

Water 31 supplied from outside to the water-washing unit 23 is sprayed through a spray nozzle 32 to reduce impurities contained in the CO₂-reduced flue gas 26 in the water-washing unit 23. The water having sprayed through the spray nozzle 32 is recovered by a receiving unit 33, sent to outside of the absorber by a pump 34, cooled by cooling water 37 in a cooler 36 through a top circulating-water line 35, and then supplied to the spray nozzle 32 to be cyclically used.

The rich solution 17 having absorbed CO₂ in the flue gas 15 in the CO₂ absorbing unit 21 is stored at the bottom of the CO₂ absorber 13. The rich solution 17 stored at the bottom of the CO₂ absorber 13 is extracted through a rich-solution supply line 41, pumped from the bottom of the CO₂ absorber 13 by a pump 42 that is provided outside, subjected to heat exchange by a rich/lean solution heat exchanger 43 with the CO₂ absorbent 16 regenerated by the regenerator 14, and then supplied into the regenerator 14 from the regenerator top.

Types of the heat exchanger to be used in the present embodiment, such as the rich/lean solution heat exchanger 43, are not particularly limited, and a known heat exchanger such as a plate heat exchanger or a shell-and-tube heat exchanger can be used.

The regenerator 14 releases CO₂ from the rich solution 17 to regenerate the lean solution 16. The rich solution 17 released from the top of the regenerator 14 to inside of the regenerator 14 is heated with vapor (steam) 44 supplied from the bottom of the regenerator 14. The steam 44 is generated by performing heat exchange between the lean solution 16 and saturated steam 46 in a regenerating superheater (reboiler) 45. The rich solution 17 is subjected to endothermic by being heated with the steam 44, releases most parts of CO₂ contained in the rich solution 17, and becomes the CO₂ absorbent (lean solution) 16 having almost all CO₂ reduced therefrom by the time the rich solution 17 reaches the bottom of the regenerator 14.

The lean solution 16 stored at the bottom of the regenerator 14 is extracted as a CO₂ absorbent from the bottom of the regenerator 14 through a lean-solution supply line 47, sent by a pump 48, cooled through heat exchange with cooling water 50 in a cooler 49, and then supplied to the CO₂ absorber 13.

Meanwhile, CO₂ gas 51 accompanied by water vapor is emitted from the top of the regenerator 14. The CO₂ gas 51 accompanied by water vapor is led out from the top of the regenerator 14, then the water vapor contained in the CO₂ gas 51 is condensed by a condenser 52 with cooling water 53, and water 55 is separated by a separation drum 54. CO₂ gas 56 separated from the water 55 by the separation drum 54 is sent to the compression unit 12. The water 55 separated by the separation drum 54 is supplied as return water 57 to an upper portion of the regenerator 14 by a condensed-water circulating pump 58 through a return-water supply line 59.

The compression unit 12 includes a first compressor 61-1 to an nth compressor 61-n (n is an integer equal to or larger than 2) that compress the CO₂ gas 56 emitted from the regenerator 14, a first cooler 62-1 to an nth cooler 62-n (n is an integer equal to or larger than 2) that cool the compressed CO₂ gas 56, and a first separator 63-1 to an nth separator 63-n (n is an integer equal to or larger than 2) that reduce moisture in the CO₂ gas 56.

The first compressor 61-1 is located on a most preflow side among the compressors, the first cooler 62-1 is located on a most preflow side among the coolers, and the first separator 63-1 is located on a most preflow side among the separators.

For the CO₂ gas 56, a step of gradually compressing the CO₂ gas 56 by the first compressor 61-1 to the nth compressor 61-n in this order, cooling the CO₂ gas 56 by the first cooler 62-1 to the nth cooler 62-n, and separating condensed water 64 generated by cohesion by the first separator 63-1 to the nth separator 63-n is repeated in the compression unit 12.

Specifically, the CO₂ gas 56 is compressed by the first compressor 61-1 and then cooled by the first cooler 62-1, thereby cohering moisture in the CO₂ gas 56. The condensed water 64 generated in the CO₂ gas 56 by cohesion is separated by the first separator 63-1. The CO₂ gas 56 from which the condensed water 64 generated by cohesion has been separated is emitted from the top of the first separator 63-1 and supplied to a compressor located on a postflow side of the first separator 63-1. The CO₂ gas 56 is repeatedly subjected to the same operation up to the nth compressor 61-n, and then an operation of separating from the CO₂ gas 56 the condensed water 64 generated by cooling the CO₂ gas 56 after the CO₂ gas 56 is compressed by gradually increasing the pressure is repeated. While the compression unit 12 has the n compressors, it is preferable to provide one to four compressors.

The CO₂ recovery system 10A has a first condensed-water supply line 65A that connects the bottom of the first separator 63-1 and the bottom of the absorbent regenerator 14. The first condensed-water supply line 65A supplies the condensed water 64 separated from the CO₂ gas 56 by the first separator 63-1 to the bottom of the absorbent regenerator 14 from the first separator 63-1. This enables the absorbent contained in the condensed water 64 separated by the first separator 63-1 to be supplied accompanied by the condensed water 64 to the bottom of the regenerator 14, and accordingly the absorbent contained in the condensed water 64 can be recovered without being discharged to outside. For example, when a content of the absorbent contained in the CO₂ gas 56 is about 1 ppm, a content of the absorbent contained in the condensed water 64 is about 75 ppm mass %.

In this way, the moisture contained in the CO₂ gas 56 recovered from the regenerator 14 can be recovered as the condensed water 64 by the first separator 63-1 and supplied to the bottom of the absorbent regenerator 14 through the first condensed-water supply line 65A and thus the absorbent remaining in the condensed water 64 can be recovered. Accordingly, the absorbent can be recovered and efficiently used without being discharged to outside.

The compression unit 12 also has a first heat exchanger 66 between the first compressor 61-1 and the first separator 63-1. The first heat exchanger 66 performs heat exchange between the CO₂ gas 56 emitted from the first compressor 61-1 and the condensed water 64 separated from the CO₂ gas 56 by the first separator 63-1. The condensed water 64 emitted from the first separator 63-1 is sent to the first heat exchanger 66, subjected to heat exchange by the first heat exchanger 66 with the CO₂ gas 56 emitted from the first compressor 61-1 to become vapor 64A, and then supplied to the bottom of the regenerator 14. Because the CO₂ gas 56 is compressed by the first compressor 61-1, the CO₂ gas 56 emitted from the first compressor 61-1 has a gas temperature higher than before the CO₂ gas 56 is supplied to the first compressor 61-1. Accordingly, the condensed water 64 emitted from the first separator 63-1 is subjected to the heat exchange by the first heat exchanger 66 with the CO₂ gas 56 emitted from the first compressor 61-1 to increase a liquid temperature of the condensed water 64 emitted from the first separator 63-1, which enables the vapor 64A to be generated. An amount of the vapor 44 to be generated by the reboiler 45 can be reduced by supplying the condensed water 64 subjected to the heat exchange by the first heat exchanger 66 and having a higher temperature to the bottom of the regenerator 14.

In this way, the condensed water 64 emitted from the first separator 63-1 is previously subjected to heat exchange by the first heat exchanger 66-1 with the CO₂ gas 56 emitted from the first compressor 61-1 before it is supplied to the bottom of the regenerator 14 and then supplied as the vapor 64A to the bottom of the regenerator 14. Accordingly, an amount of vapor consumed by the reboiler 45 to generate the steam 44 by heating the lean solution 16 can be reduced.

For example, the CO₂ gas 56 supplied from the separation drum 54 to the first compressor 61-1 has a gas temperature of about 45° C. The CO₂ gas 56 is compressed by the first compressor 61-1 and the CO₂ gas 56 sent from the first compressor 61-1 to the heat exchanger 66 has a gas temperature of about 170° C., for example. The condensed water 64 emitted from the first separator 63-1 has a temperature of about 45° C., for example. By performing indirect heat exchange between the condensed water 64 and the CO₂ gas 56 by the heat exchanger 66, the CO₂ gas 56 sent to the first separator 63-1 comes to have a gas temperature of 117° C., for example, and the condensed water 64 having a temperature of about 122.6° C., for example, is supplied to the bottom of the regenerator 14 to be mixed with the lean solution 16 heated by the reboiler 45. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce an amount of vapor consumed in the reboiler 45 (about 2%, for example) to heat the lean solution 16 and generate steam by previously heating the condensed water 64 in the first heat exchanger 66 before the condensed water 64 is supplied to the bottom of the regenerator 14 and generating the vapor 64A.

Because recovery of the moisture contained in the CO₂ gas 56 can be handled by the CO₂ compressing system, there is no need to newly install a pipe or the like for separating moisture from the CO₂ gas 56 and supplying the condensed water 64.

Furthermore, because the condensed water 64 is obtained in a pressured state by the first compressor 61-1 and inside of the regenerator 14 is at a normal pressure, the water 65 recovered by the first separator 63-1 can be easily supplied to the regenerator 14 by use of a pressure difference, without using a supply pump or the like.

In the CO₂ recovery system 10A according to the present embodiment, the first heat exchanger 66 is located on a more preflow side than the first cooler 62-1. While the first heat exchanger 66-1 can be located on either before or after the first cooler 62-1, it is preferable to locate the first heat exchanger 66-1 on the more preflow side than the first cooler 62-1 to efficiently perform the heat exchange with the CO₂ gas 56.

While the condensed water 64 is supplied to the bottom of the regenerator 14 in the CO₂ recovery system 10A according to the present embodiment, the present embodiment is not limited thereto and the condensed water 64 can be supplied to an intermediate position of the regenerator.

FIGS. 2 to 4 are schematic diagrams of other configurations of the CO₂ recovery system 10A according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an example in which the condensed water 64 is supplied to the CO₂ absorbent 16 that circulates between the CO₂ absorber 13 and the regenerator 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the CO₂ recovery system 10A according to the present embodiment has a condensed-water supply line 65B that is connected to the lean-solution supply line 47 and the rich-solution supply line 41. In this example, there is no need to heat the condensed water 64 when the condensed water 64 is supplied to the lean solution 16 in the lean-solution supply line 47 and to the rich solution 17 in the rich-solution supply line 41. Accordingly, the condensed-water supply line 65B is connected to the lean-solution supply line 47 and to the rich-solution supply line 41 without installation of the first heat exchanger 66.

The condensed water 64 emitted from the first separator 63-1 is supplied to either the lean solution 16 in the lean-solution supply line 47 or the rich solution 17 in the rich-solution supply line 41, or to both thereof. Amounts of the condensed water 64 to be supplied to the lean solution 16 and the rich solution 17 are adjusted by adjustment valves V11 and V12. In this way, by mixing the condensed water 64 with the lean solution 16 or the rich solution 17, the absorbent contained in the condensed water 64 can be recovered and thus discharge of the absorbent to outside can be suppressed.

FIG. 3 is an example in which the condensed water 64 is supplied to inside of the CO₂ absorber 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the CO₂ recovery system 10A according to the present embodiment has a condensed-water supply line 65C connected to the top circulating-water line 35. The condensed water 64 emitted from the first separator 63-1 is supplied to the top circulating-water line 35 to be mixed with the water 31 and supplied to the inside of the CO₂ absorber 13. In this example, because the condensed water 64 needs not to be heated when it is supplied to the inside of the CO₂ absorber 13 through the top circulating-water line 35 as described above, the condensed-water supply line 65C is connected to the top circulating-water line 35 without installation of the first heat exchanger 66. In this way, by mixing the condensed water 64 with the water 31, the absorbent contained in the condensed water 64 can be recovered and therefore discharge of the absorbent to outside can be suppressed.

FIG. 4 is an example in which the condensed water 64 is supplied to the return water 59 to be supplied from the separation drum 54 to the regenerator 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the CO₂ recovery system 10A according to the present embodiment has a condensed-water supply line 65D connected to the return-water supply line 59. The condensed water 64 emitted from the first separator 63-1 is supplied to the return-water supply line 59 to be mixed with the return water 57 and supplied to inside of the regenerator 14. In this example, because the condensed water 64 needs not to be heated when it is supplied to the inside of the regenerator 14 through the return-water supply line 59 as described above, the condensed-water supply line 65D is connected to the return-water supply line 59 without installation of the first heat exchanger 66. In this way, by mixing the condensed water 64 with the return water 57, the absorbent contained in the condensed water 64 can be recovered and accordingly discharge of the absorbent to outside can be suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the examples where the condensed water 64 is supplied to any one of the bottom of the absorbent regenerator 14, the CO₂ absorbent 16 that circulates between the CO₂ absorber 13 and the regenerator 14, the top circulating-water line 35 for supplying the water 31 to the inside of the CO₂ absorber 13, and the return water 59 to be sent from the separation drum 54 to the regenerator 14 have been explained as examples in which the condensed water 64 is supplied into the system in which the CO₂ absorbent 16 circulates between the CO₂ absorber 13 and the regenerator 14. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and the condensed water 64 can be supplied to any two or more thereof through the condensed-water supply lines 65A to 65D.

While the CO₂ recovery system 10A according to the present embodiment has the n compressors, the number of compressors to be installed can be appropriately changed according to a compression ratio of the CO₂ gas 56.

While the cooling water (C. W) is used as a low-temperature medium that is subjected to heat exchange with the CO₂ gas 56 in the first cooler 62-1 to the nth cooler 62-n, the medium is not limited to the cooling water and liquids other than the cooling water in the plant can be used as long as the liquids have lower temperatures than the CO₂ gas 56.

As described above, according to the CO₂ recovery system 10A of the present embodiment, the moisture generated by compression of the CO₂ gas 56 recovered from the regenerator 14 is recovered as the condensed water 64 and supplied into the system in which the CO₂ absorbent 16 circulates between the CO₂ absorber 13 and the regenerator 14, thereby enabling the absorbent contained in the moisture in the CO₂ gas 56 to be recovered without being discharged to outside. Furthermore, the condensed water 64 separated from the first compressor 61-1 is previously heated before it is supplied to the bottom of the regenerator 14 to generate the vapor 64A and then supplied to the bottom of the regenerator 14, thereby enabling the amount of vapor consumed in the reboiler 45 (about 2%, for example) to be reduced. Because the recovery of the moisture contained in the CO₂ gas 56 can be handled in the CO₂ compressing system, there is no need to newly provide a pipe or the like for sending the recovered condensed water 64, and the condensed water 64 recovered by the first separator 63-1 can be supplied to the regenerator 14 without using a supply pump or the like, so that the recovery of the moisture can be efficiently and easily realized.

Therefore, according to the CO₂ recovery system 10A of the present embodiment, the operation efficiency of the entire system can be improved while the absorbent in the condensed water 64 contained in the CO₂ gas 56 can be efficiently recovered.

Second Embodiment

A CO₂ recovery system according to a second embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to the drawings. Because the CO₂ recovery system according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the CO₂ recovery system shown in FIG. 1, like members as those in the CO₂ recovery system shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by like reference signs and explanations thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a CO₂ recovery system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, a CO₂ recovery system 10B according to the present embodiment has a second condensed-water supply line 71 that connects the second separator 63-2 located second from the preflow side among the separators and the bottom of the regenerator 14, and a second heat exchanger 66-2 that performs heat exchange between CO₂ gas emitted from the second compressor 61-2 located second from the preflow side among the compressors and condensed water 72 separated from the CO₂ gas 56 by the second separator 63-2, in the CO₂ recovery system 10A according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

The moisture contained in the CO₂ gas 56 that is recovered from the regenerator 14 is recovered by the second separator 63-1 as the condensed water 72 and supplied to the bottom of the absorbent regenerator 14 through the second condensed-water supply line 71. This enables the absorbent accompanying the condensed water 72 and remaining therein to be recovered with the condensed water 72 and thus the absorbent can be recovered without being discharged to outside.

The condensed water 72 emitted from the second separator 63-2 is sent through the second condensed-water supply line 71, subjected to heat exchange with the CO₂ gas 56 emitted from the second compressor 61-2 by the second heat exchanger 66-2 to generate vapor 72A, and then supplied to the regenerator 14. A gas temperature of the CO₂ gas 56 compressed by the second compressor 61-2 is compressed to a higher pressure than in the first compressor 61-1. Accordingly, the condensed water 72 emitted from the second compressor 61-2 can increase a liquid temperature of the condensed water 72 emitted from the second separator 63-2 by the heat exchange in the second heat exchanger 66-2 with the CO₂ gas 56 emitted from the second compressor 61-2 to be higher than a liquid temperature of the condensed water 72 emitted from the first separator 63-1.

Therefore, by previously subjecting the condensed water 71 emitted from the second separator 63-2 to heat exchange with the CO₂ gas 56 emitted from the second compressor 61-2 in the second heat exchanger 66-2 before the condensed water is supplied to the bottom of the regenerator 14 to generate the vapor 72A and then supplying the vapor 72A to the bottom of the regenerator 14 to be mixed with the lean solution 16 heated by the reboiler 45, the amount of vapor consumed by the reboiler 45 can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, a first condensed-water supply line 65E is connected to the second condensed-water supply line 71 on the preflow side of the second heat exchanger in the second condensed-water supply line 71. This enables the condensed water 64 emitted from the first separator 63-1 to be mixed with the condensed water 72 in the second condensed-water supply line 71 and to pass through the second heat exchange 66-2, thereby supplying the condensed water 64 as the vapor 64A to the bottom of the regenerator 14. Accordingly, the amount of vapor consumed by the reboiler 45 can be further reduced.

While the amount of the recovered absorbent is small because the amount of the condensed water 72 emitted from the second separator 63-2 is small, the absorbent in the moisture contained in the CO₂ gas 56 recovered from the regenerator 14 can be recovered more efficiently by mixing also the condensed water 64 emitted from the first separator 63-1 with the condensed water 72. Furthermore, because the second compressor 61-2 compresses the CO₂ gas 56 to the higher pressure than in the first compressor 61-1 as described above, the CO₂ gas 56 emitted from the second compressor 61-2 has a higher gas temperature than that of the CO₂ gas 56 emitted from the first compressor 61-1. Accordingly, the condensed water 72 emitted from the second separator 63-2 can obtain more heat when the heat exchange with the CO₂ gas 56 emitted from the second compressor 61-2 is performed in the second heat exchanger 66-2.

While the first condensed-water supply line 65E is connected to the second condensed-water supply line 71 on the preflow side of the second heat exchanger in the present embodiment, the present embodiment is not limited thereto. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of another configuration of the CO₂ recovery system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the first condensed-water supply line 65E can be connected to the second condensed-water supply line 71 on the postflow side of the second heat exchanger in the second condensed-water supply line 71.

Furthermore, while the first condensed-water supply line 65E is connected to the second condensed-water supply line 71 in the present embodiment, the present embodiment is not limited thereto. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of still another configuration of the CO₂ recovery system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the first condensed-water supply line 65E and the second condensed-water supply line 71 can be separately connected to the bottom of the regenerator 14. This enables a ratio between the vapor 64A generated by heating the condensed water 64 supplied through the first condensed-water supply line 65E and the vapor 72A generated by heating the condensed water 72 supplied through the second condensed-water supply line 71 to be adjusted according to an amount of vapor required by the reboiler 45.

As described above, according to the CO₂ recovery system 10B of the present embodiment, the moisture generated by compressing the CO₂ gas 56 recovered from the regenerator 14 is recovered more as the condensed water 72 and supplied into the system in which the CO₂ absorbent 16 circulates between the CO₂ absorber 13 and the regenerator 14, so that the absorbent contained in the moisture in the CO₂ gas 56 can be recovered more without being discharged to outside. Furthermore, by previously heating the condensed water 72 separated from the second compressor 61-2 to generate the vapor 72A before the condensed water 72 is supplied to the bottom of the regenerator 14 and then supplying the vapor 72A to the bottom of the regenerator 14, an amount of vapor consumed by the reboiler 45 can be reduced more. Because the recovery of the moisture contained in the CO₂ gas 56 can be handled in the CO₂ compressing system, there is no need to newly install a pipe or the like for supplying the recovered condensed water 64, and the condensed water 72 recovered by the second separator 63-2 can be supplied to the regenerator 14 without using a supply pump or the like. Accordingly, the recovery of the moisture can be realized more efficiently and more easily.

Therefore, according to the CO₂ recovery system 10B of the present embodiment, the operation efficiency of the entire system can be improved while the absorbent in the condensed water 64 and 72 contained in the CO₂ gas 56 can be efficiently recovered.

While the CO₂ gas 56 emitted from the first compressor 61-1 and the second compressor 61-2 is used to perform the heat exchange in the first heat exchanger 66-1 and the second heat exchanger 66-2 with the water 65 and 72 that is supplied from the first separator 63-1 and the second separator 63-2 to the regenerator 14 in the first and second embodiments, respectively, the present invention is not limited thereto and the heat exchange with the water 65 or 72 can be performed using the CO₂ gas 56 emitted from another compressor.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   10 CO₂ recovery system     -   11 CO₂ recovery unit     -   12 compression unit     -   13 CO₂ absorber     -   14 absorbent regenerator     -   15 flue gas     -   16 CO₂ absorbent (lean solution)     -   17 rich solution     -   21 CO₂ absorbing unit     -   22, 32 spray nozzle     -   23 water-washing unit     -   24 demister     -   26 CO₂-reduced flue gas     -   31, 55 water     -   33 receiving unit     -   34, 42, 48 pump     -   35 top circulating-water line     -   36, 49 cooler     -   37, 50, 53 cooling water     -   41 rich-solution supply line     -   43 rich/lean solution heat exchanger     -   44 steam     -   45 regenerating superheater (reboiler)     -   46 saturated steam     -   47 lean-solution supply line     -   51, 56 CO₂ gas     -   52 condenser     -   54 separation drum     -   57 return water     -   58 condensed-water circulating pump     -   59 return-water supply line     -   61-1 first compressor     -   61-n nth compressor     -   62-1 first cooler     -   62-n nth cooler     -   63-1 first separator     -   63-n nth separator     -   64, 72 condensed water     -   64A, 72A vapor     -   65A to 65E first condensed-water supply line     -   66-1 first heat exchanger     -   66-2 second heat exchanger     -   71 second condensed-water supply line     -   V11, V12 adjustment valve 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A CO₂ recovery system comprising: a CO₂ recovery unit comprising a CO₂ absorber that absorbs and reduces CO₂ in flue gas containing CO₂ using a CO₂ absorbent by bringing the flue gas into contact with the CO₂ absorbent, and an absorbent regenerator that regenerates a CO₂ absorbent having absorbed CO₂ in the CO₂ absorber to obtain a CO₂ absorbent; a CO₂ compression unit including a set of a compressor and a separator, wherein the compressor compresses CO₂ gas emitted from the absorbent regenerator and the separator is located downstream of the compressor to separate moisture contained in the CO₂ gas as condensed water from the CO₂ gas by cooling compressed CO₂ gas emitted from the compressor; a condensed-water supply line that supplies the condensed water separated from the CO₂ gas through the seperator into a system in which the CO₂ absorbent circulates between the CO₂ absorber and the absorbent regenerator; and a heat exchanger located on the condensed-water supply line, which subjects the condensed water emitted from the separator to heat exchange with the CO₂ gas emitted from the compressor.
 2. The CO₂ recovery system according to claim 1, wherein the system between the CO₂ absorber and the absorbent regenerator is at least one of the following consisting of a bottom of the absorbent regenerator, an inside of the CO₂ absorber, CO₂ absorbent circulating between the CO₂ absorber and the absorbent regenerator, return water to be supplied to the absorbent regenerator from a separation drum that separates water from the CO₂ gas emitted from the absorbent regenerator, and a top circulating-water line of the absorber. 